Two weeks ago, Allstate held their annual Sprint and Stride event, a 5K race around campus to benefit breast cancer research. After successfully completing the race the last 2 years, I signed up again this year, along with some co-workers, to get out in the afternoon sun and enjoy getting paid to exercise.

Sadly, things did not go as smoothly this year.  For a myriad of reasons, including a sore back on my part, my racing companions this year did not seem into the whole thing.  We arrived at the starting gate well after the big throng of people had been sent on their way and, around the 2 mile mark, found ourselves the last group on the course.  It was at this point we made the decision to bail on the rest of the race and head back to the finish area to cash in on the free water and bananas.

Will we do it again next year?  Who knows.  The future is a bit murky right now, so it’s hard to tell if this was the last hurrah for this group of racers.